Disclaimer: not mine.
Thanks to Venquine1990 for ideas for this chapter.
Chapter 8
"Donald?"
"Yes Kairi?"
"What are the limitations of that spell? Can it be used on another World?" she asked as they headed into Traverse Town to rest and resupply.
He stared at her before realising why she was asking. "Uh…." He honestly didn't know; he'd never had a reason to experiment with it. "Sorry Kairi, I don't know. Maybe Merlin would?" he suggested. The Wizard was crazy but he knew his magic.
"Okay, thanks Donald."
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Sora got out of the tub and towelled himself dry before moving into the bedroom to join Kairi on the bed, not bothering with clothing. He curled around her, nuzzling at her before settling down to sleep, surprised when she rolled over in his arms since he'd thought she was asleep. She smiled sleepily, brushing some still damp hair back from his face.
"Good soak?"
"Yeah," he leant in and kissed her softly, smiling as she wrapped her arms around him. "Love you," he murmured.
"Love you too," she cuddled in, her head against his chest as she fell asleep.
Sora lay there, gently stroking her hair. He didn't need as much sleep as she did, Riku needed even less than he did since the oceans weren't always the safest place to sleep. It was almost perfect to just lie in bed together, the bed just wasn't quite occupied enough. When he closed his eyes he could imagine Riku lying on Kairi's other side, keeping her safe between them, silver hair damp and spread over a pillow, eyes closed as he dozed. It felt real…but it wasn't. Riku was lost, somehow being controlled by their enemies, acting like he was human, and that scared Sora. He'd heard the old legends as a kid, what if they held truth? How would Riku cope when they freed him if they found out those legends were true?
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Leon could see that Sora and Kairi were becoming more and more desperate to find their missing friend, not that he blamed them. From the sounds of their encounters, someone, likely Maleficent, had their hooks into him deep. Maybe too deep. What would the kids do if there was no way to free him from the control he was under? If he was under…Leon knew they wouldn't want to consider it, but it was possible he'd fallen to the Darkness on his own and was simply being used. And there was no guarantee they'd be able to bring him back from that.
He just hoped it didn't distract them at the wrong time with disastrous results. Leon nodded as the kids waved at him, following the King's men back to the ship.
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"Uh, a big ship is catching up to us," Goofy spoke up, and Sora checked the instruments before the ship flew past them, sails clearly visible.
"Quit gawking! That's a pirate ship!" Donald screeched.
The Jolly Roger turned and headed straight for them. Sora tried to evade but there wasn't going to be enough time.
"It's going to ram us! Hold tight!" he yelled, reaching for Kairi even as the ship spun out of control, throwing them around.
Sora sat up, finding Kairi tucked against his chest. He shook her shoulder and she groaned but stirred. He helped her up and then they began walking cautiously along the deck.
"I didn't think you'd come, Sora," a familiar voice called, and they both turned to see Riku standing up on the main deck. "Good to see you again," he smirked.
Sora breathed in the salty sea air, feeling more relaxed than he had the whole time except when they'd been in the seas of Atlantica. He squeezed Kairi's hand and stepped partially in front of her. "Where are Donald and Goofy?"
"Are they that important to you? More important than old friends? Instead of worrying about them, you should be asking what happens to thieves."
"What are you talking about?" Sora demanded.
"The Keyblade, you stole it from me," Riku answered coldly.
"What? Riku you're not making any sense!" he moved forward only for a hook to block his path.
"Not so fast. No shenanigans aboard my vessel, boy."
Sora looked up to see the pirate captain smirking as they were surrounded by Pirate Heartless.
"Riku, why are you siding with the Heartless?" Kairi called out, and they both saw it, the slight crack in the cold mask. She was the weak point in whatever had been done to Riku.
"The Heartless obey me now, I have nothing to fear," he told them, making Sora glare.
"You're stupid. Sooner or later they'll swallow your Heart," he snapped at his fellow Mer.
"Not a chance," Riku sneered. "My heart's too strong."
"Riku..." he whispered sadly, Kairi squeezing his hand. He glanced around with his head lowered to hide what he was doing. They were fairly high off the water but not dangerously so, not for them anyway. He glanced at Kairi who frowned in confusion before realising what he was planning, giving the tiniest nod.
"I've picked up a few other tricks as well. Like," he didn't finish as Sora exploded into motion, a powerful blast of wind driving the Captain and Heartless b
Sora leapt up to the main deck and slammed into Riku, knocking him off balance, dazing him, even as he got a good grip around his waist and leapt, sending them both over the rail and towards the waiting sea water.
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Kairi saw them go over and spun, calling up her own magic, hitting everything she could with a fire spell even as she drew her staff, driving it into the Captain's stomach before he could recover, not noticing she had moved to stand over a trapdoor.
"Troublesome female," the Captain wheezed, motioning to someone. "You can join your friends."
Before she could react, a trapdoor opened underneath her and she fell.
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Sora kept a tight hold on the struggling Riku, which shouldn't have worked but Riku felt weak. Not surprising after so long cut off from the water. Just before they hit the water, everything went black and cold.
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"What of the brats Mr Smee?" Hook called to where his first mate was leaning over the rail.
"They were swallowed by Darkness. What shall we do, Captain Hook?"
"Nothing! They're either dead or Maleficent's trouble now. The hold is crawling with Heartless, let them keep an eye on the other brats," he snapped.
"But, Captain, you-know-who is also down—" Smee began to interrupt.
"Shh... Did you hear that, Smee? Oh, that dreadful sound!" he looked around nervously.
"No, Captain."
He grabbed Smee, shaking him. "Are you quite sure? Did I imagine it? Oh, my poor nerves..."
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Hades watched the portal open and two bodies spill out of the Darkness, both curling on the ground, gasping. Riku recovered quicker, used to exposure to the Darkness, staggering to his feet, glaring at the brown-haired boy on the floor. Young Sora pushed himself to his feet, looking around with wide eyes, spotting him and then Maleficent. Hades smirked and waved at him, able to sense his fear but also determination.
"Welcome to my home young Sora," Maleficent greeted.
"What have you done to Riku?" the boy demanded.
"Done to him? Why, you make it all sound so nefarious. All I have done is shown him his true power and how to harness the Darkness."
"No, Riku would never act like this," Sora shook his head, even as the mentioned boy scoffed.
"No one's done anything to me, except you," he spat.
Hades chuckled quietly; the boy really had fallen deeply into the Darkness. He wondered if he was even capable of any independent thought now or was he merely a mindless slave to Maleficent's magic? It seemed Sora was alluding to their shared ancestry without coming out and saying they were some kind of sea creature capable of taking human form…and young Sora wore a band that matched Riku's, gifts from his own brother. Had her spells done something to damage Riku? That was interesting.
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Riku stared at Sora and felt…nothing. The anger over taking his Keyblade was gone, leaving him completely empty. His only desire was to serve Maleficent; every thought in his head and word he spoke was all due to the spells on him. Riku's own personality, his will, everything had been suppressed. He was what Hades suspected, even though he was unaware of that fact. He was a puppet and she was the puppet master.
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Sora met Riku's gaze and his eyes were cold, empty, like Riku was gone. He refused to believe that! Riku was still in there, buried under Darkness and magic. He took the two steps separating them and grabbed his shirt, pulling him down closer. "Wake up Riku, please," he begged and then he kissed him.
He felt Riku freeze but he didn't let go, pouring his Heart into the kiss, reaching for Riku with everything he had. They'd known each other almost their whole lives, had bonded deeper than a human ever could because of how they were treated, he knew he could reach Riku, he had to.
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Maleficent watched the boy kiss Riku, that was a surprise. She had thought both enamoured of the girl but apparently not. Did he really think that would change things? He was hardly a Princess of Heart and her spells on Riku were not ones designed to be broken by even True Love's Kiss. Riku stood, frozen, such a surprise action leaving him without a set response. If Sora was looking for proof Riku was being controlled, his lack of reaction would likely be enough.
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His mind was blank as warm lips pressed to his. Deep within his Heart though, a tiny piece of the real Riku sensed Sora's presence, his actions, and desperately tried to break free. He was so weak; from months of magical attack on his mind form two different sources, from too long out of the water…
"Wake up Riku, please."
"Wake up Riku, please."
"Wake up Riku."
"Wake up."
His hands moved, gripping Sora's shirt in return, his grip weak. Ever so faintly, his lips moved against Sora's.
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"Quite a codfish, that Riku—running off with that boy without even saying goodbye," Hook waves his hand in the air.
"Run off where? Tell me, where did they go?" Kairi demanded, ready to fight despite how tired she was.
"To the ruins of Hollow Bastion, where Maleficent resides. But you won't be going there." He took an unlit lantern from Mr. Smee, holding it up. Tinker Bell was trapped inside with her hands on the glass. "Unless you intend to leave your little pixie friend behind?" He held his hook up to the lantern scraping the glass with it, scaring Tinker Bell.
Kairi glanced at the others, looking around for some way out, but there was nothing and she released her staff. The Pirate Heartless surround them instantly, knives bared.
Tell me who the last Princess of Heart is and I'll let you live. Be glad I'm merciful, unlike the Heartless. So, which will it be? The Princess, or the plank?" He pointed his hook in the direction of the plank, a wooden board hoisted off the side of the deck. Then a sound reached those on deck, obviously scaring the man. He moved to the side and looked down, seeing something that terrified him. "It's him! The crocodile that took me hand! Oh, Smee! He's after me other hand! I can't stay here!" he yelled. "Go away! Oh, I can't stand the sight of him!" and with that he ran to his cabin. "Smee, you take care of them!"
Kairi found herself being forced onto the plank, backing slowly towards the ocean. When she reached the edge of the plank, she glanced down, seeing a crocodile which opened its wide mouth in anticipation. She had never feared the ocean, not with Sora and Riku, but now they were gone and she had no way to fight the creatures living within this sea.
"Fly, Kairi! Just believe, and you can do it!" Peter's voice called to her.
She closed her eyes and leapt backwards off the plank, falling towards the crocodile, who jumps at her, but at the last second she slowed to a stop just above it before soaring up again, hovering over the deck. Peter Pan swooped down and took Tinker Bell from Smee, who was distracted by Kairi. They landed side by side on the deck, in front of the flabbergasted first mate. Peter Pan opened the lantern, setting Tinker Bell free.
"Thanks, Peter," she grinned at him even as she pulled her staff again, ready her magic.
"Hey, don't mention it. You didn't think I'd leave you and Tink behind, did you?" he shrugged.
Tinker Bell floated down next to them and Smee ran away, leaving them to deal with the Heartless swarming the deck.
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Sora felt Riku respond weakly, some part of him fighting the control, but he knew it wouldn't be enough. "I love you, Kairi loves you," he promised, as he broke the kiss. Riku's eyes were no longer cold and dead, which was wonderful, but they still weren't Riku's eyes. He saw what he needed behind Riku, but also saw Hades and Maleficent, Hades summoning a fire ball. He didn't hesitate, pushing Riku out of the way, sending a water spell at the floor behind him. Riku slipped back, landing in the decorative fountain as Sora tried to dodge the other way, crying out in pain as he was hit by the godly flames, skidding across the floor to hit the wall supporting the stairs to the balcony level.
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He felt the vague sensation of water surrounding him, pouring over him, and then suddenly things became clearer even as he writhed in pain, hearing his voice screaming, He choked on water…that wasn't right…was it?
"Riku!" a pained voice called as if from miles away.
Couldn't breathe….couldn't…and then he was sucking in air, gasping, tail thrashing in the shallow water. Tail…
Someone else was screaming…hurting…who
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Sora shakily pushed himself up on his arms, looking to the fountain to see Riku thrashing and screaming, seemingly choking on water which shouldn't be possible. "Riku!" he yelled for him, hissing and clutching his side at the burning pain there. He'd gotten to his knees when Riku stopped screaming, relieved to see a tail thrashing in the shallow water.
"Intriguing," Maleficent spoke, and Sora snarled at her in rage.
"Uh uh, settle down kiddo."
Sora screamed as he was hit by more fire, collapsing again, but then the fires stopped, blocked.
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Sora! Sora was screaming. He struggled to open his eyes, memories flooding back. What…what had he done?! No, he shook his head, looking around. Sora was against the wall of the stairs and Hades…Riku reached for the water around him even as he forced himself from the fountain, body shifting form. He knelt on the floor, naked and not caring about it, even as the water in the fountain exploded outward, forming a shield between Sora and the god, blocking the fire.
Riku didn't dare glance towards Maleficent, still able to feel the need to please her, but for the moment at least he had control of himself and could fight it, he had to protect Sora! It was his fault he was there, if Sora hadn't tried to save him, to get him into the sea beneath Hook's ship… he almost flinched when he called Soul Eater, able to feel the insidious power, but it was the only weapon he had.
"Sora!" he called, moving towards the water shield, relieved to detect movement behind it. He passed through and dropped to a knee beside him, touching his shoulder, wishing he knew healing magic.
"Ri…ku?" Sora mumbled.
"I'm here, Sora you need to cast a Cure, please."
Sora didn't answer but then green leafy magic spiralled around his body. Riku got his free arm around his chest tugging him up, and Sora leant against him. For the first time in forever, he heard his native tongue, understood it, and could respond, hearing Sora choke back a sob when he did. He twisted, wrapping his arms around him, and Riku had to dismiss Soul Eater or risk cutting Sora on the blade. He hugged him back, nuzzling him briefly.
"We need to move, you have to get up," he pleaded. He felt so weak himself, dizzy, he knew he needed several hours at least in water as soon as possible, Sora now needed it too to help finish healing his wounds.
Working together they got to their feet, the wall of water collapsing, Riku unable to hold it any longer. Hades looked amused and relaxed, watching them. Riku froze as Maleficent stepped forward, hand moving over the orb in her staff….no! He wouldn't let her use him again, he wouldn't.
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"Peter, are you really going back to Never Land?" Wendy asked sadly as the eternal boy floated in front of her.
"Afraid so. But we can see each other any time. As long as you don't forget about Never Land, that is," he explained, floating closer so that they could hold hands, and Kairi smiled at the sight even as she feared for her own boys.
Tinker Bell saw them and crossed her arms in jealousy, Donald laughing at her until she turned around and glared at him. He clamped his beak shut and the pixie flew over to Peter and Wendy, spinning angry circles around them. Then she did the same to Kairi, confusing her.
"Oh, boy. She's getting' steamed again. Do me a favour, look after her for me, will ya?" Peter asked and Tink spun around Kairi again.
"What?" She asked in shock, but the pixie just settled on her shoulder. Kairi sat on the ledge of the clock tower, looking out at the massive city, nearly jumping when Wendy touched her other shoulder.
"Peter remains with me as long as I remember him. You will find Sora and Riku if they remain in your heart. You'll find them Kairi, just don't give up."
Kairi smiled at her. "I won't, I promise. They're my boys, no matter what. I just…we've spent all this time trying to save Riku…what if she does the same thing to Sora? I'm scared."
Wendy smiled and sat beside her. "As long as you believe in them with all your Heart, I know you can save them."
TBC…